SANTA CLARA -- While the 49ers evaluated Peyton Manning and eventually re-signed Alex Smith last spring, Colin Kaepernick often was playing catch and strengthening his bond with Kyle Williams at the 49ers' facility.

"We kind of grew up in the organization together," Williams said Tuesday. "To see him take off, it's awesome. I might be his biggest fan in here."

Up until his Nov. 25 knee injury, Williams long served as Kaepernick's go-to guy, and that traces back to their informal workouts at San Jose State during the 2011 player lockout. Their connection carried over to the 2012 offseason workouts and the 49ers' official practices.

But Williams disappeared from the 49ers' radar when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. That occurred during their Nov. 25 win at New Orleans, in which Kaepernick made his second straight start as Alex Smith's successor.

Williams, a third-year wide receiver, returned to the locker room Tuesday and immediately found Kaepernick at his locker for a smile-filled reunion.

Williams insisted Tuesday that he'll be "perfectly fine" by the time training camp rolls around in six months. Like virtually every other NFL player who sustained a torn ACL this season, his comeback is inspired by Adrian Peterson, the Minnesota Vikings' running back who came within 9 yards of breaking the NFL's single-season rushing record in his 2012 return.

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"I'm not going to turn out and be Adrian Peterson," Williams conceded. "But you see him do it, and his was worse and he did it later in the season."

This will be the second straight offseason in which Williams has to rebound from adversity. A year ago, he botched two punt returns while filling in for Ted Ginn Jr. during the NFC Championship game loss to the New York Giants.

Before his knee injury, Williams tallied 14 catches for 212 yards and a touchdown while splitting time with Randy Moss as the 49ers' No. 3 receiver.